Artificial flowers



annosn GIRAUDAT, Aoi? 4 New YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 96,582, dated November 9, 1869.

MAGHINB -FQR 'BRANCHING- ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the saine.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, AMBnosn GIRAUDAT, of the' city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Machine for Branching Artificial Flowers; and I do hereby declare'that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part 0i' this specification.

igure 1, Plate l, represents a plan or top view of my improved machine for branching artificial flowers.

Figure 2, Plate I, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, the plane of sect-ion being indicated by the line a: x, ig. l.

Figure 3, Plate I, is a perspective view of the revolving stein and frame, for holding the threads for the upper layer.

Figure 4, Plate I, is a perspective view of the double roller for the upper layer of threads.

Figure 5, Plate II, is a--vertical transverse section of the machine, the plan of section being indicated by the line y y, tig. l.

Figure (i, Plate Il, is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe operating-portion of the machine.

Figure 7, Plate II, is a detail longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, ofthe same.

'Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Thisinvention relates to a new machine for secur ing branches, leaves, tlowers, or ,other ornaments, to the stems-of artificial flowers, by means of two layers of thread applied to the wire stem. .The small stems ofthe said branches, leaves, or owers are secured between the two'v layers of threads, of which the upper. one is wound, in one or more threads, closely around the main stem.

The invention has for its object to so arrange the machine that continuous stems o f great length can be branched thereon, as well as such of smaller size.

The operation of the machine should be rapid, and not liable to interruption, and the construction should be such that a spool of thread can be removed and replaced Whenever desired, and without removing/the main stem.

The invention consists, first, in the nse of a fixed tubular axle, through which the longitudinally-progressing, but not revolving stem is fed along together with the inner layer of thread, while the outer layer is, from a spool, revolved on said tubular axle, wound upon the stem and vinner-layer, to secure the ends of flowers, branches, 8vo., to thc stem, and to impart a perfectnish to the outside of the stern.

The invention consists, further, inthe' peculiar construction of the revolving frame, titted upon the aforesaid tubular axle, for holding the -euter thread-spools will securely retain a central spool, or a frame with one, two, or more eccentric spools in ,connection-with the-tubular axle.

The invention also consists in the construction of the frame for holding theeccentric spools, of which each one is removable from such frame wit-hout requiring the removal of the latter.

Finally, the invention consists in the general arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinaftermore fully described. A, in the drawing, represents a frame or table made of wood, or other suitable material, of suitable size and shape, and of ,such strengthv that itwill sustainand support the machinery pertaining to this apparatus.

B is the drivingshaft, hung'in the table., oron some other suitable frame.

By a belt, a, or otherwise, the shaft B transmits motion to a longitudinal shaft,G, hung under the top plate b of the table.

By a belt, c, rotary motion is, from the shaft O, transmitted to a pulley, f, hung loose upon a vlongitudinal tube, l), which is securely supported in a hori z'ontal position byears l that project from the plate b of the table. Y'

In front of the tube D are hung, in proper standards that project from the plate b, two parallel transverse rollers E and F, over which an endless belt, Gr, whose upper face is about on a levelwith the lower side of the table D', is fitted. The rollers E F, or one of them, receive rotary motion by a belt or other connect-ion from the shaft B or G. That roller, F, which is nearest to the front end of the tube I), is preferably hung in a hinged frame, e, which can be swnnglback to slacken the belt, and to clear the front end otsaidtube.

To the pulley f is secured a frame, H, revolving with said pulley.

The frame is made in form of a plate, g, projecting radially from opposite sides of the pulley, and having forwardbent earsvh h at its ends.

To one of these ears is hinged a plate, i, which can, by a vspring-catch, j, of suitable kind, be locked to the other ear, as is clearly shown in fig. 3, which is a perspective view of the frame H.

The pulley f has a forward-proj ecting tubular shank, k, which revolves with it around the tubeD.

When the gate t is swung aside, as in iig. 3, a. spool, I, can be placed upon the revolving tube 1c, andlocked in place by the plate i, when the same is closed by thc catch j, as in iig. 1.

ing ears t i, on which there are stems m, for holding two or more spools L L, may be fitted unon the revolving shank le.

To the frame J is applied a spring wire, fn, whose ends are tted through the stems fm, to keep the in place, the said frame being sor-constructed that it spools L in place, as in tig. 4.

In place of the spool I, a frame, J, having project-I spil-ally around the same.

The b ody of the wire n is, when the frame J is applied, locked to one of the ears h by the catch j.

l'lhe frame AJ will,therefore,'revolve with the tube k, while the spools can revolve independently around their own axles.

Friction can be applied to the spool I bya spring, o, whose pressure is regulated bya screw, p, fitted through the plate g, and to the spool L, by a suitable spring or springs fastened to the frame I. V

In line with the rear end of the tube D is hung to the table, or to a plate, r, pivoted thereto, a spool, M, which contains wires or wire used fo'r the stem O.

N N are spools hung m .the rear part of the table, and containing the thread or threads t for the rst covering or inner lining of the stem.

Thethread orthreads for the-outer covering of the stem, and for the fastening of the branches, leaves, or

' flowers W to the same, are taken from the spool I or spools L.

The operation is as follows: 4 e wire s for th'e main stem is drawn through the tube D, and clamped to the upper side of the belt G, by a suitable clamp, P, so that it will be drawn forward, and fed along by the motion of said belt.

When the clamp has arrived near the roller E, it is taken ofi; and applied to the fi'ont again.

The threads t fromthe spools N are also drawn through the tube and drawn along with the wire, they forming a covering for the wire, onwhich the stems of the iiowers, &c., cannot slip. The wire and the threads t do not revolve, but are merely fed along in a straight direction.

lhe thread or threads V from the spool I or spools L are drawn through guards x, which are formed on the frame H, and are wound upon the wire j ust where the same issues from the tube D.

The wire being fed along, the thread .V is Wound The tension of' the thread V is regulated by the screw p, which permits the spool I to revolve with greater or less ease on its shank.

vlhe twigs, branches, owers, leaves, or other articles to be applied to the stem thus formed by the wire s and thread t are, with their stems, held against the wire, so that such stems lie on that portion of the wire which is just issuing from the tube D, but which is not yet covered by the thread V'.

The next revolution of the frame 'H will apply the thread V around such small stems 'w and wire s, and will thereby secure the branches, iiowers, Sto.

For short work, the single spool I can be used, but when very long wires are to be covered and branched, such as are longer than thethreads on the spools, the spool I is impracticable, as it cannot he removed without withdrawing the wire from the tuoe D. For such long work I use the frame J with the spools I, as the latter can be removed without opening the gate 'L or disturbing the wire. y I

Continuous operation can thus be obtained without diticulty, and without requiring great dexterity 0r difficult machinery.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desiie to secure by Letters VPatent-- 1. The tube D, guiding the wire and inner threadit, and supporting the` rotary spool or spools, by which the outer thread is. applied to the stem of an artieall ower, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The rotary frame H, arranged on the guide-tube D, to support the covering-spool or spools, substantially as herein shown and described.

The frame J, arranged to receive two or more spools L, and t-o be locked to the rotary fi'ame H, in the manner set forth.

4. The wire a, arranged on the frame J, to lock the spools L thereto, and to lock the said frame J to the rotary frame H, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The spring o and screw p, in combination with the frame H, to regulate the tension of the coveringthread, snostantially as herein shown and described.

6. The rotary spools for applying the coveringthread, arranged in combination with the wire s for the stem, which is fed along without being turned.

7. The belt G and clamp P, arranged in comhination with each other, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.'

8. A. machine forbranching artificial flowers, arranged substantially in theinanner herein shown and described, and to operate as set forth.

AMBROSE fGlR-AUDA'I.

Witnesses: GEO. W. MABEE, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

